While most dogs live up to their reputation as man’s best friend, some may turn against or even kill their owners, underlining the urgent need for stricter control of dangerous pets.
On August 30, two American Bully dogs fatally attacked an 18-year-old boy at home in Lop Buri. The powerful pets had moved into the house with the victim’s elder brother, a junior policeman, just a week earlier.
“My brother had played with the dogs before,” said their owner, who was at a loss to explain what triggered the attack. He had raised them since they were born to a female that had long been the family pet.
CCTV footage showed the two dogs chasing the teenager as he ran down the stairs in a desperate attempt to escape. He then fell to the ground floor, where the American Bullies mauled his head and limbs, tearing off the victim’s ears during their frenzied attack.
Grieving over the death of their youngest family member, the elder brother and his parents have decided to rid themselves of all three dogs, which are now up for adoption. Social media users commenting on the case have pointed out that the two dogs responsible for the deadly attack would have been euthanised by authorities in many countries.
Not the first death
The teenage victim in Lop Buri is far from the first person to be killed by pet dogs in Thailand. Last year, two pit bulls mauled to death a 78-year-old bedridden pensioner at their home in Lampang.
The tragic incident came just weeks after another pit bull bit its physically able owner to death in Udon Thani. The victim had intervened to stop the dog attacking his mother. Neighbors and strangers have also fallen prey to fatal attacks by dangerous dogs, many attacked while walking home.
What defines a dangerous dog?
Roger Lohanan, CEO and founder of the Thai Animal Guardians Association (TAGA), says it is crucial to define “dangerous dogs” and impose controls to reduce their threat.
“The definition will be based not on the breed but on the behavior of individual animals,” he explained, referring to the ongoing push for a ministerial regulation to control aggressive dogs.
Roger said animals that had bitten or harmed humans or other pets would be defined as “dangerous dogs”. The same category would also cover dogs that cause accidents by cutting in front of motorcycles.
His explanation is sound given that most breeds are not associated with violent natures or a tendency to fight.
DogsBite.org, which seeks to reduces serious dog attacks in the United States, reports that around 1,000 US citizens require emergency treatment for serious dog bites every month. Annually, about 12,480 citizens are hospitalized due to dog attacks. In the 15 years up to 2019, canines killed 521 Americans. Pit bulls contributed to 66% (346) of these deaths.
Roger said the new legislation to control dangerous dogs in Thailand is expected to be enforced by the Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry between December and March next year.
The Livestock Development Department is preparing the draft regulation for review by a committee formed of representatives from TAGA and other relevant agencies. The regulation will then be checked by government lawyers and the agriculture minister.
Control measures coming
Roger said the regulation would force owners to keep dangerous dogs in secure spaces inaccessible to outsiders with warning signs on clear display.
The pets will also have to be muzzled and kept on a leash measuring no more than a metre long when out in public. Children younger than 15 and adults older than 65 will not be allowed to take dangerous dogs out for walks.
The regulation will also ban violent punishment of dogs, and require owners to ensure they are reasonably free from stress, fear and pain. Those caught breaking the regulation will be fined between Bt10,000 and Bt40,000, Roger said.
